Sir Please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that on my passage from Rhode Island to New York April the 6th. At half past two A M Rhode Island then bearing about N. b E. distant 14 or 15 Leagues. I.fell in with a Rebel squadron, consisting of one Ship of Thirty guns, another of Twenty eight, Two Brigs, one of sixteen, the other four 0 teen guns, and a Sloop of twelve, and all full of Men, and continued engaging them broad side, and broad side an hour, and a h;ilf, whe~ my Masts, Sails, and Rigging being very much shattered, and an Attempt made to board us, I bore away for Rhode Island, and continued a close running fight, until half past six, when they left us. As their principal intention was to disable, and then board us; Our Masts, Sails, Rigging, and boats have suffered very much, by which means I was so fortunate as to lose but one Man, and only three wounded; all by their M usquetry. At Eleven I joined the Rose, Swan, and Nautilus at Rhode Island, who immediately went in pursuit of them; ,And after fishing all my Masts, and refitting my rigging as fast as possible, I made the best of my \vay for Halifax, where l arrived the Nineteenth Instant.

I should do great injustice to Lieutenant ~ulteney, did I not mention to their Lordships, his great co9lness, and bravery, during the yVhole ,action, As well as all the rest of the Officers, whose good. conduct, Animated the Men, and made them fightlike British Seamen. I am Sir [&c.]

. Tyringham Howe [Endorsed on verso] 15 Jun Let him know that I recd on the 10 instt. his Lre of the 27th of April

from Halifax & having laid it before my Lds was commanded by .. their Ldps to acqt him that they are well satisfied with his conduct & with account he has given of'the ー behaviour of his Officer & Men; which [you] will signify to them.